Vacuum tube



Nm., 2Q, w27@ VACUM TUBE Filed May 9, 1923 ATToRNEYs Patented Nov. 29, l927.

STATES LOUIS WINKELMAN N, F HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY:

VACUUM TUBE.

Application filed May 9,

This invention relates to vacuum tubes and particularly to devices of this class employed in connection with radio receiving and transmitting apparatus and what arecommonly known as amplifier or detector tubes, employing electrodes such as a filament, plate and grid; and the object of the invention is to provide a tube ot the class specified withmeans for increasing or intensifying the active properties of the electrodes or elements of such tubes, said means comprising a radio-active substance or substances including phosphorous or a substance having the combustible properties of phosphorous which may be applied as a coating to the electrodes of the tube or which may be mounted upon the inner face of the tube to form a lining or iacingtherefore, and with. these and other objects in View, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specitied, which is simple in construction, efficient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which Fig. l is a sectional side view of a vacuum tube made according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. l; and` Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modication.

In Figs. l and 2 of the drawing, Ivhave shown at 5 a vacuum tube commonly known as amplifier or detector tubes, as used in radio apparatus of various kinds and classes, said tube being provided with an end piece 6 having wire terminals 7 and within the tube or bulb proper 8 are the usual electrodes, namely a plate 9, filament'lO and grid 11, and in this form of construction the said electrodes are coated with a radio-active substance or substances as indicated at 9a, 10a and 11i in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and this substance is also indicated in Fig. 1 by the stipling applied to said electrodes. It will be understood that any desirable radio-active substance or substances may be employed, such for example as radium, thorium, uranium, pitchblende or the like or a combination of two or more of such or other substances together with a combustible substance such for example as phosphorous or the like 1923. Serial No. 637,621.

or a combination of phosphorous or like substances with one or more of the radio active substances.

By applying the coating to the plate, filament and grid in the manner above set out, it has been found in practice that the utility oi' these electrodes is materially intensied to render vacuum tubes of the class specified more sensitive and efficient in accom lishing the results for which they are inten ed.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing I have shown another method of carrying my invention into e'ect, and in this gure, instead of ap'- plying or coatin the electrodes 9, and 1l with the radio-active substance or substances, I apply such substance or substances to the inner face of the bulb 8 of the tube as shown at l2 in said figure, and it will be understood that this coating is materially eX- aggerated in the drawing for the purpose'oi. clearly illustrating the same, but on the other hand, the thickness of this coating may be regulated to suit vacuum tubes of diierent kinds andclasses. It will be understood that the radio-active substance or substances and including phosphorous above named or any other equivalent substances may be used in the manner shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing to accomplish the desired result. It will also be apparent that the electrodes 9, 10 and 11 shown in Fig. 3 of the drawino' may be coated as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 oli the drawing if desired, but this matter will rest solely with the predetermined vacuum tube in connection with which the radioactive substance and phosphorous is employed. In Fig 2 of the drawing I have indicated in dotted lines this combination, or in other words, I have indicated the tube 8 coated as shown in Fig. 3 and it will be understood that either method of procedure may be employed or the combination as indicated in said figure. I find in practice that by surrounding the electrodes of a vacuum tube either by a coating of radio-active substance and phosphorous applied directly to the electrodes, or by a body of such substance encircling or surrounding the electrodes as shown in Fig. 3 or a combination of both of these methods, will operate to intensify or materially increase the active properties or functions of a specific vacuum tube, and the present invention is an improvement on similar methods of this class as shown and described in prior applications of Letters Patent of the United States, filed byl me September 6, 1921, Ser. No. 498,877, and

April 10, 1922, Ser. No. 551,287, the former havin issued in Letters Patent No. 1,466,- 777, ated April 4, 1923.

It will be understood that'while I have shown and described a specific form of vacuum tube, that I am not necessarily limited to any type of tube of the class under consideration, my invention consisting particularly in the provision of a radio-active substance or substances Which surround or encircle the electrodes of a tube of the class under consideration, and various changes in and modifications of the construction herein shown and described may be made Within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

I have found that an inflammable or combustible emanative combination or mixture such as phosphorous and the like, combined with radio active substance or substances, will cause, when in contact with heat from a glowing lilament thermionic emission current, the disintegration of all molecules or elements into positive and negative particles within an evacuated tube, and by so doing attract and repel them through the thermionic emission stream as it 4flows to the positive and negative terminals, thereby producing a smooth radiation. My construction also facilitates the making of tubes having like properties or values, thus pro- .duclng an area Within the tube suitable for a perfect thermionic emission and rectificavtion and amplification of radio Waves and 2. A vacuum tube containing a filament, plate and grid coated with a combined radio active substance and a substance having combustible properties similar to phosphorous.

3. A vacuum tube containing electrodes and a radio active substance including a substance having combustible properties similar to phosphorous on one of said electrodes. 4. A vacuum tube containing electrodes and a radio active substance including a substance having combustible properties similar to phosphorous on one of said electrodes, and as a coating for the inner face of the tube.

5. A vacuum tube comprising a bulb Within which, is a vacuum chamber, electrodes in said chamber and the inner face of said bulb having thereon a substance containing a radio active element, and an element having combustible properties similar to phosphorous.

6. The combination With a vacuum tube containing electrodes positioned Within the vacuum chamber of the tube, of a substance contained Within said vacuum chamber and comprising a radio active element, and an element having combustible properties similar to phosphorous.

7. A vacuum tube containing electrodes all of said electrodes.

8. A Vacuum tube containing a filament, plate and grid coated with a combination of a radio-active substance and phosphorous.

9. A vacuum tube containing electrodes and a radio-active substance including phosphorous on said electrodes and as a coating for the inner face of the tube.

10. The combination With a vacuum tube containing a. filament, plate and grid of a substance containing a radio-active element and phosphorous Within the tube and cooperating With the filament, plate and grid therein.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name this 3rd day of May 1923.

LOUIS WINKELMANN.

.sa and a substance comprising a radio-active; element and phosphorous applied directly toiI 

